Smoking substitute device

Abstract

A smoking substitute device is described. The device includes an electrically conductive porous wick heater. At least one electrical contact region of the wick heater is exposed from the smoking substitute device for direct engagement with a respective at least one electrical contact of a main device. The main device includes a power supply for supplying electrical energy to the at least electrical contact region via the at least one electrical contact.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smoking substitute device including:
 an electrically conductive porous wick heater;   wherein at least one electrical contact region of the wick heater is exposed from the smoking substitute device for direct engagement with a respective at least one electrical contact of a main device, the main device including a power supply for supplying electrical energy to the at least electrical contact region via the at least one electrical contact.   
     
     
         2 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wick heater is substantially planar. 
     
     
         3 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein each electrical contact region is for engagement with the respective electrical contact of the main device from a contact direction that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the smoking substitute device. 
     
     
         4 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 3  as dependent on  claim 2 , wherein the plane of the wick heater is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking substitute device. 
     
     
         5 . A smoking substitute device according to any preceding claim, wherein the smoking substitute device includes a cover that obscures at least a portion of the wick heater, wherein the cover includes at least one electrical contact aperture through which the at least one respective electrical contact region is exposed for engagement with the respective electrical contact. 
     
     
         6 . A smoking substitute device according to any preceding claim, as dependent on  claim 2 , wherein each at least one electrical contact region is configured such that the respective electrical contact is incident on the respective electrical contact region from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wick heater. 
     
     
         7 . A smoking substitute device according to any preceding claim, wherein the smoking substitute device includes a store for supplying aerosol forming substrate to the wick heater. 
     
     
         8 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 7 , as dependent on  claim 2 , wherein the aerosol forming substrate is supplied from the store to the wick heater along a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wick heater. 
     
     
         9 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 7  or  claim 8 , wherein the aerosol forming substrate is supplied to the wick heater at at least one feed location on the wick heater, wherein the at least one electrical contact region includes a first electrical contact region and a second electrical contact region, and wherein the at least one feed location is located between the first electrical contact region and the second electrical contact region. 
     
     
         10 . A smoking substitute device according to any preceding claim, wherein the wick heater includes an electrically conductive fabric. 
     
     
         11 . A smoking substitute device according to any preceding claim, wherein the wick heater includes carbon fibers. 
     
     
         12 . A smoking substitute system including,
 a smoking substitute device according to any preceding claim, and;   the main device.   
     
     
         13 . A smoking substitute system according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one electrical contact includes a non-pointed electrical engagement region for direct engagement with the respective electrical contact region. 
     
     
         14 . A smoking substitute system according to  claim 13 , wherein the non-pointed electrical engagement region includes a substantially flat portion. 
     
     
         15 . A smoking substitute system according to  claim 14 , wherein the substantially flat portion is for co-planar engagement with the respective electrical contact region.